Posted:
May 18, 2012
Legislation that would eliminate multiple in-person visits to obtain or renew a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) has advanced in Congress after the Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives unanimously approved the measure.
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), H.R. 3173 would require the Department of Homeland Security to reform the TWIC program such that only one in-person visit to a TWIC center would be required.
Current regulations require an in-person visit for enrollment, a second visit to pick up the card and another two visits each time the TWIC must be renewed. This creates an enormous inconvenience for many transportation workers, who may live hundreds of miles away from the nearest enrollment center, or work aboard vessels on which they may be abroad for months at a time.
"Nearly two million American workers currently receive Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and my bill will eliminate the unnecessary requirement for an approved applicant to appear multiple times at a TWIC office, sometimes located hundreds of miles away, when a single visit can accomplish the same purpose," Rep. Scalise said. "I'm proud to spearhead the effort to remove this unnecessary and time consuming roadblock in the TWIC application process, and will continue working to protect the nearly two million maritime and transportation industry workers from harmful regulations and red tape."
H.R. 3173 now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The legislation has not been enacted into law and existing regulations still apply for all TWIC users.
Legislation to ease travel burden on TWIC users advances in House
Legislation that would eliminate multiple in-person visits to obtain or renew a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) has advanced in Congress after the Homeland Security Committee in the House of Representatives unanimously approved the measure.
Sponsored by Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), H.R. 3173 would require the Department of Homeland Security to reform the TWIC program such that only one in-person visit to a TWIC center would be required.
Current regulations require an in-person visit for enrollment, a second visit to pick up the card and another two visits each time the TWIC must be renewed. This creates an enormous inconvenience for many transportation workers, who may live hundreds of miles away from the nearest enrollment center, or work aboard vessels on which they may be abroad for months at a time.
"Nearly two million American workers currently receive Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and my bill will eliminate the unnecessary requirement for an approved applicant to appear multiple times at a TWIC office, sometimes located hundreds of miles away, when a single visit can accomplish the same purpose," Rep. Scalise said. "I'm proud to spearhead the effort to remove this unnecessary and time consuming roadblock in the TWIC application process, and will continue working to protect the nearly two million maritime and transportation industry workers from harmful regulations and red tape."
H.R. 3173 now moves to the full House of Representatives for consideration. The legislation has not been enacted into law and existing regulations still apply for all TWIC users.